"Really!? I can truly join Liyue!?" Hearing Elliot's words, Ganyu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. She never imagined Elliot would agree to her joining so readily.
"Really." Elliot nodded, responding with a faint smile.
"Then... then may I call you 'Your Majesty'?" Ganyu felt "Dark Night Sovereign" sounded too formal, so she decided dropping the first two characters seemed more fitting.
"You may."
"Yay!!! I'm joining Liyue! From now on, I'm part of Liyue too!" Ganyu seemed utterly delighted.
The round sphere bounced across the lawn, somewhat resembling a furry yoga ball. Yet just as her joy reached its peak, the cheerful sound abruptly halted. Her expression then shifted, growing complex—as if she had something to say but didn't know where to begin.
"What's wrong?" Elliot offered her an opening, asking gently.
"Your Majesty... I actually have a master... but I can't find her... I want her to join Liyue too..." Ganyu spoke timidly.
Hearing her words, Elliot finally understood what felt off. Logically, she should have been at Jueyun Karst, living with the Cloud Retainer. So when he arrived at this Cui Jue Slope, he hadn't expected to see Ganyu here.
"Your master?" Elliot asked, puzzled.
"Yes. My master is incredibly skilled in divine arts and mechanical arts. There are several other powerful individuals there too, all capable of manipulating elemental forces. If they could all join Liyue, I believe it would make Liyue even better!"
"Then where are they?"
"They're in Jueyun Karst, but I can't find the place anymore..."
"I can locate Jueyun Karst. However, if they all wield elemental power and master mechanical arts, given the terrain there, they likely possess self-defense capabilities. They might not necessarily join Liyue."
Elliot adopted a cautious approach, testing Ganyu's understanding of the Archon and the Adeptus.
"Though my master and the others are truly formidable, they still can't compare to an Archon. If they encountered a powerful Archon, they'd likely face grave danger..."
Clearly, Ganyu's response exceeded Elliot's expectations. He'd assumed this adorably clumsy little ball of fluff only cared about eating all day. It seemed he'd misjudged her—this girl actually had a solid grasp of the Archon's power.
"Hmm... You're quite right. Then let's head to Jueyun Karst."
"Alright! I'll come with you. I haven't seen the masters in ages. Even if I get scolded for skipping out, it'll be worth it if they can join Liyue."
Ganyu was a clever child from the start. She'd witnessed Elliot's power firsthand—how he'd crushed an Archon in an instant with near-absolute dominance. With such a formidable Archon protecting them, even amidst war, happiness and safety were assured.
Moreover, according to Elliot, there was an even mightier and benevolent Archon—the Geo Emperor. With such a lineup, losing would be nearly impossible. Not latching onto their coattails would be foolish.
"Alright," Elliot replied.
Unhurried, Elliot and Ganyu walked side by side toward the direction of Jueyun Karst. As they walked, Ganyu kept casting glances at Elliot, a warmth deepening within her heart.
Amidst their journey, she also sensed his gentleness in the smallest of details. Though Ganyu didn't know Elliot well, she understood that Elliot was immensely powerful.
Logically, he could have easily left Ganyu waiting here while he went alone to Jueyun Karst, bringing their master and the others back. That would have been several times more efficient. After all, Ganyu's walking speed was pitifully slow.
But Elliot didn't do that. He simply walked slowly alongside her. This was undoubtedly protecting Ganyu's pride, silently telling her: "I don't mind your pace."
Though Elliot appeared rather cold, Ganyu could sense his gentleness, which only reinforced her belief that "sovereigns aren't good at expressing themselves."
"Your Majesty..." she murmured, trying to strike up a conversation.
"What is it?"
"Why don't you go ahead? I'll wait for you here." She murmured, her voice tinged with self-consciousness.
Someone like Ganyu, whose shortcomings were so glaringly obvious, became all the more sensitive about such matters. Right now, Ganyu felt like she was holding Elliot back.
"Aren't you supposed to go back and see your master?" Having lived through eight lifetimes, Elliot could see right through Ganyu's thoughts.
"But..." Ganyu hesitated, seeming too embarrassed to voice her concern. After a moment's struggle, she resolved to confront her shortcomings. "But... I walk so slowly... I'll hold you back..."
Elliot paused and turned to face Ganyu.
"My pace won't change without you. This isn't urgent; there's no need to rush."
Ganyu paused, her mouth opening as if to speak, but she only offered a faint smile. "Sorry, just forget I asked."
"It's fine." With that, Elliot resumed walking toward their destination.
A wave of warmth washed over Ganyu's heart. Though she didn't know if Elliot had deliberately chosen his words to accommodate her, she felt remarkably comfortable in his company now.